At one point in time, St. Agnes Hospital was the only place in Raleigh for African-Americans to get healthcare. The former hospital holds a wealth of Raleigh history, but is also as the location of several sad events related to segregation and other artifacts of the Jim Crow era.

The hospital first opened its doors in 1896. Students of Saint Augustine’s College quarried and laid the stone in 1909 that makes up this towering building standing near the corner of Oakwood Avenue and State Street. There were two was a notable tragic event that took place here.

Medical care was segregated. Rex Hospital on the corner of Wade Avenue and St. Mary’s Street served the white population. It had better facilities and better health care than St. Agnes Hospital, the care center for blacks on the campus of Saint Augustine’s College. St. Agnes hospital also had a school of nursing. According to Mr. Hunter at least one tragic event occurred at this hospital because of segregation and the lack of resources at this hospital.

The first black heavyweight champion of the world, Jack Johnson, died at St. Agnes Hospital because they lacked the technology that could have saved his life. It was available at Rex Hospital.

Not only was St. Agnes a place for those to get medical care (whether they had money or not), but it also was a nursing school as well. Coupled with Leonard Medical School (the nation’s first four year medical college), Raleigh was leading the way for African-Americans to bring healthcare to those across the state that had little access to it.

The hospital was shut down in 1961, after a segregated area of Rex Hospital was opened around the same time. It has sat in disrepair ever since, now essentially only a shell of a building. There doesn’t appear to be one event that led to the utter collapse of the non-stone part of the structure, but it is so empty on the inside that it seems as though it burned in a fire.

There are plans to renovate the building to become the St. Agnes Health Disparities Institute. It’s estimated to be in the several millions of dollars to make this historic structure usable once again.

UPDATE / 07.24.08

Frank Stasio of The State Of Things on WUNC recently aired a story about the history of black doctors and the recent apology by the AMA for the long history of excluding African Americans from its ranks. In the episode, the legend of Dr. Charles Drew was addressed. It was exposed as a myth that Jack Johnson died as a result of segregation. Additionally, it doesn’t appear that he even died at St. Agnes, but at a hospital in Burlington.

Charles R. Drew was a black surgeon who pioneered techniques for preserving blood plasma that saved countless lives during World War II. Later he became medical director of Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 1950, while driving three other black doctors to a conference in Alabama, Drew fell asleep at the wheel. The car swerved and rolled over, breaking his neck and crushing his chest. According to legend, he desperately needed a blood transfusion, but doctors at a hospital in Burlington, North Carolina, refused to admit him, and he died.

This story is told in several black history books and has been repeated by Dick Gregory, among others. But it isn’t true. Morris spoke with Dr. John Ford, one of the passengers in Drew’s car. “We all received the very best of care,” Ford said. “The doctors started treating us immediately.”

Drew didn’t receive a transfusion because his injuries wouldn’t permit it. “He had a superior vena caval syndrome–blood was blocked getting back to his heart from his brain and upper extremities,” Ford said. “To give him a transfusion would have killed him sooner. Even the most heroic efforts couldn’t have saved him. I can truthfully say that no efforts were spared in the treatment of Dr. Drew, and, contrary to popular myth, the fact that he was a Negro did not in any way limit the care that was given to him.”

However, segregation and substandard equipment and care in the medical field lasted more than one hundred years. Thousands of untold stories exist of those who died because they didn’t have access to the best medical care available at the time simply because of the color of their skin. It is something that should still remain written for posterity to remind us all of the effects of discrimination and racism.

49 Comments:

These pictures are freaking sweet. I didn’t even know this place existed, keep up the good work.

rcurry07/16/2008

I remember learning about Dr. Charles Drew as a child, and his unfortuanate and ironic death. It’s remarkable this place is still standing. They should really make a monument of it this building. It should be called the Dr. Charles Drew Health Disparities Institute.

Devin07/16/2008

Wow. I went to St. Augustine’s College for four years. I’m a little embarrassed to say that I never knew about those two facts. I remember looking at the building all the time wondering if they were just waiting for it to fall down on its own or something. Although it is property of the college, I think the city of Raleigh should try to help out with renovating or restructuring since it is a historic building and has major significance in Raleigh’s history.

SAM07/20/2008

How about the alumni of St. Aug’s take some responsibility for this? I would think a partnership between the city and the college could get something done … of course, the last time they tried that the track/football stadium was ‘shoved’ out to the beltline.

Seems to me there’s a concerted lack of leadership at St. Aug’s to get anything done about this piece of history. Similarly, the city won’t move on it until someone brings an idea to the table.

Surely, the community, African-American or not, can see the value of this landmark? It’s an absolute travesty that it sits in such disrepair.

Ernie07/24/2008

I ride my bike past this building almost every day. And everyday I wonder why this exceptional building hasn’t been restored. I hope the community can come together to make that happen. We should, however, be careful in including the city (they may want to tear it down to make room for empty condominiums and yuppy bars).

Karl07/25/2008

I’ve been following this project since it began back in 1991, and the real story behind this “restoration” is as sad as the way the building now looks. Let me just say it’s not about funding; the money’s there. Since 1991 the following grants have been conferred: $3 million in combined funds from the United Negro College Fund and U.S. Department of the Interior; a city of Raleigh grant for $100,000; $769,000 from the National Park Service which was matched by a grant from the UNCF Special Programs Corp.; $250,000 from Glaxo-Wellcome; $225,000 from Lilly Endowments; $20,000 from Rex Hospital; and $50,000 from private pledges. By 2001, when the contractor walked off the job over nonpayment of bills by the college, more than $1 million had been spent. Nothing at all has been done on the project since then. It seems to me that the real problem here is abysmal mismanagement and questionable expenditure of earmaked monies by St. Aug’s. (Go to the N&O archive and search St Agnes hospital if you want to read all the gory details.) A 2003 price tag estimate to complete the restoration came to $7+ million– Doesn’t look like anything will be happening to move this project forward anytime soon. In the meantime Raleigh citizens have some pretty evocative ruins to contemplate, (Does anybody else see wartime Berlin here?) Thanks for documenting this John!

Helent07/26/2008

Last time I talked with Marc Newcom (a couple of months ago) at St. Augs, the plan to turn it into a health center was back on track. That could just be wishful thinking.

Brian07/31/2008

I am impressed with your site, and some of the fascinating aspects of Raleigh you find. I grew up in Raleigh and love to see some of the old historical places explored and hopefully being preserved.

One thing I did want to comment on was the story of Dr. Charles Drew that is included with the feature on St. Agnes Hospital. Being a historian, I want to ask you to research the facts of his death, especially the part on him being denied treatment at the local hospital due to his color. This is an Urban Legend, that was propagated by an erroneous episode of the M*A*S*H TV show.

According to his widow, he received the best possible medical treatment possible, at Alamance County General Hospital, after his car accident. My source is a web page from the Charles Drew University. (see below)

Brian – Thank you for the kind words and taking the time to comment on this article.

I am fully aware of the myth of Dr. Drew being an urban legend. I was made aware of it after this article was initially published, as I heard it on NPR. If you’ll notice at the end of the article I provided an update on July 24th, with a link to the Straight Dope debunking the myth.

I now realize I should strike through the original text that is propagating the myth.

Thanks again for writing!

Denise11/23/2008

I was born in this hospital January 21, 1961. My mom said it was snowing that Saturday when she went into labor with me. She lived at that time near Old Stage Road, and she remember them admitting her because of the weather. After it was shut down, she said it became an office building for Saint Augustine College. Now it’s just a shell of a building. I wish thre was something we could do as black afro americans to restore this building that has such a strong history for us…

Anonymous11/24/2008

It’s a shame that North Carolinians can afford to restore the “slave block” in Fayetteville, old office buildings, highways and tear down old buildings that are less than 15 years old, but they can’t restore a hospital full of history for black americans. It doesn’t surprise me though. The state should foot some of the bill, like it would if it was any other building that houses the history of white america. Face it, it’s all a part of the past…

dawn03/27/2009

Why don’t the blacks put in the money and the work to restore this building? The college has already failed once. Millions of dollars have already been poured into it and look where it is. Waste of money and a big time failure on this college (again). Now they want more money and more help again. And what will happen? 10 years from now the building will be worse off looking then it is now. Why waste more of our money?

John05/01/2009

I think this hospital is even more significant than most realize. During the 1920s a Dr. Hubert A. Royster, a Raleigh surgeon, was Head of Surgery at this institution and I have historical documents that testify this to be the beginnings of the eugenics movement in NC. Dr. Royster was also a surgeon at Rex and Dorothea Dix where he performed numerous asexualizations and sterilizations on mentally ill women and AA women. Let me know if you want more detail – I wrote a thesis paper at Duke on this.

Irene C.05/17/2009

How can I contact John from Duke who wrote a thesis paper on sterilizations, asexualizations and Dr. Royster? I have also done quite a bit of intense research on these subjects and would like to exchange some information. Can you contact him for me through email?

Irene – I have sent an email to both you and John so that you may exchange information about St. Agnes Hospital.

Kristine06/01/2009

Does any one know if there was a fire? I know the hospital was shut down but what happened to this building? Buildings just dont become a shell. Please if some one knows, email me. Also email me where you got your info on what happened to the building. thank you so much!!!! (matrix3121@aol.com) please make the subject St. Agnes hospital

Raleigh Boy06/01/2009

No, there was no fire. The hospital was closed in 1961, and the building used for various purposes over the years after that time. By 1991, when the “restoration” effort began, it had already been abandoned and boarded up. In the 1990s, as a part of the “restoration,” the building was gutted to its stone walls, and has stood as you see it now since 2001.

A few years ago, while researching my family’s history, I came across my aunt’s engraved graduation invitation from St. Agnes’ Senior class dated 5/27/1936. I assumed that St. Agnes was located somewhere not far from the Phila. area as this was where my family was from. It wasn’t until recently, when I came across an old photo of my aunt in her nurse’s uniform with the stamp “finished by Siddell Studio, Raleigh, NC”, that I realized that St. Agnes was located in NC. I never knew my aunt, but the family story was that she could not graduate from a school she had started to attend in Phila., so she went to another school. No living person in my family knew anything other then that about her. Unfortunately, my Aunt Doris contracted TB from a patient in the hospital and died in Raleigh in 1938, at the age of 23. I googled St. Agnes Hospital because I wanted to learn more about it. I had no idea of the rich history associated with this institution. Thank you for the article as it gives me a great perspective on my aunt’s life which I will include as I document my family’s legacy.

Tee07/18/2009

I was born there. :) I enjoyed reading the historical info! Thanks!

Jason Cooper09/08/2009

I was born and raised in Raleigh NC. My older brother was born in St Agnes. It would be great if the community could come together and preserve this important piece of history in our city.

Bernard Patterson10/27/2009

I attended Saint Augustine’s College, and as a history major I was aware of the rich history regarding Saint Agnes Hospital. While I was there it was being utilized. I agree this is a very significant part of (American History)and it should be saved.

Irene C.10/27/2009

How can I contact Bernard Patterson? I taught at St. Augustine’s for 30 years and suspect I may know him. As a history major, he may be interested in assisting with the project.

Irene R. Clark

Irene C.10/27/2009

On June 19, 2009, “Brenda” said that her “Aunt Doris” was a nurse at St. Agnes and died at age 23. How can I contact Brenda. I feel certain that I have located her Death Certificate of 1938, with related information. Can we also exchange email addresses?

Irene R. Clark

Tara09/12/2010

My grandmother was a nurse at St. Agnes. It’s sad that with all the black star power (Oprah, Michael Jordan, Dick Gregory, et al.,) this historic building has not been restored. Where, who are the advocated of this restoration project?

rodney12/05/2010

I was born there we used to pick plums and blackberries. The white boys used to chase us. we used to sneak in the building and play with with the specimens in the jars. This was before the gym I got stiches on my chin from the old lady dr I’m 53 years old.

good job

Roland W.01/10/2011

I was born there and my mother told me many stories about St.Agnes. In 2009 she was laid to rest at the age of 88. When I’m in Raleigh and I ride by this structure those memories play heavy on my mind and the fact of knowing that this is where my life began. Please let me know what I can do to be a part of this restoration.

gloria hope hambrick06/12/2011

I was born at the St. agnes hospital june 30, 1946 This article told me alot of things I did not know. I was told by my mother who is now 93, that the boxer Jack Johnson died at St. Agnes on the day I was born. Is that true or false?

Irene R. Clark06/13/2011

Jack Johnson was reported to have died at St. Agnes. The date of his death was June 10, 1946 (not June 30).

Dean D Blakeley, MD06/20/2011

According to a history written about Saint Agnes Hospital in the National Medical Journal in 1961, the facility was opened at the instigation of the wife of the President of Saint Augustine’s College in 1896. The facility later absorbed the patient population of Leonard Hospital which had formed in 1913, but later closed in 1916. The piece gave a nice history of the hospital and the nursing school and appeared to contradict the oral history that the patients were moved to a segregated wing at Rex Hospital. It appears in actuality that the patients and physician staff were incorporated into the newly opened Wake Memorial Hospital. Urban folklore indicated that the patient’s were segregated initially at Wake, but I’m trying to get that nailed down by somebody working on the 50th anniversary history being put together for the hospital. As for integration at Rex, I’ll probably have to do a little more research at the state archives.

my son was born at rex hospital on febryary 4, 1975 and i think i was born there on november 21, 1954. not sure because i was adopted. would like to know how to find out if i was born there

Julianna T02/18/2012

I’m a Raleigh photographer/videographer and I’m interesting in filming here. Does anyone know who I can get in touch with about this?

Julianna

Smiles 4 Miles12/09/2012

Saw this building tonight for the first time. Driving by, we took some pictures and it is amazing all of the “orbs” with faces in the pictures! I had to find out what this buidling was…and am astounded to learn about it’s history and why so many orbs would be in the pictures there! I hope they restore this building…there’s way too much history here to let it go to waste.

TW21404/20/2013

Thank you for posting this information. I have been researching my mother’s family for the past few months and recently discovered that a cousin of mine was a Intern/Doctor at this hospital according to the 1930 census. It is great to see there is actual documentation about this hospital online. Thanks for sharing it.

I think that it’s great to be able to preserve a monument like this. Regardless of how much preservation can be made to this building the “true” preservation is seeing how so many people are connected to it. I have goose bumps just hearing your stories!

Irene R. Clark04/22/2013

I would like to correspond with TW214 [April 20, 2013] about the cousin who was and Intern/Doctor based on 1930 US Federal Census; as well as Tara [9/12/2010] whose grandmother was a nurse at St. Agnes. Can we exchange email addresses??

gloria04/22/2013

I was born at St. Agnes Hospital June 30, 1946

Joseph B. Cutchins, Jr.09/29/2013

I graduated from St. Augustine’s College (class of ’65). My daddy, Joe Sr. graduated in 1926-captian of the first St. Aug. football 1926 CIAA CHAMPIONS; my sister Frances graduated in 1953 or ’55; my brother Robert “Bobby” was in the class of ’67, my baby sister Gwendolyn was born Oct. 1, 1946 at St. Agnes Hospital and graduated in 1968. So you see we have a real attachment to both of those historical institutions. Additionally, boxer Jack Johnson was actually DOA at St. Agnes from injuries sustained in an auto accident in my hometown Franklinton, NC (27 miles north of Raleigh) on June 10, 1946. The ambulance from my family funeral home (Franklin Funeral Home-now Cutchins Funeral Home) transported mortally wounded Jack Johnson to St. Agnes Hospital. I’m currently working with a sports consortium to place a historical marker at the accident site to commerate his legacy and death. Yes, St. Agnes Hospital & St. Augustine’s University (the most recent name) hold a special place in my heart and my family’s history. If you are interested further email me at jbfcjr@earthlink.net.

Rob Shields08/22/2014

I live near campus and would love to know the latest update on the St. Agnes restoration project and connect with others who are passionate about seeing this building restored as a way to honor the rich African American history of the site as well as empower the surrounding community.

I was one of the last babies born in St. Agnes Hospital in December 1960. I was delivered by Dr. Ronald McDowell. I don’t remember the name of my delivery nurse, but it’s to my understanding that she was a long time member of the St. Agnes staff.

On my 40th Birthday, I visited the site with one of my great-nephews. I explained to him the history of the Hospital and St. Aug. Our visit was doing the period when the restoration project was taking place. One of the construction workers stopped and talked with us. After he found out that it was my birthplace and my birthday, he gave me a stone and piece of wood that had been removed from the building. A true keepsake.

In response to Dr. Dean Blakely’s 6-20-11 comments concerning where the patients were transferred to in April 1960. They were taken to the then Wake Memorial Hospital, now Wake Med. Yes, the Black patients were segregated from the other patient population. The Black patients were housed in the former wing, which is now a part of the new section that Rehab and the Wellness Center occupies.

I’m not sure when Rex integrated. I do remember the old Mary Elizabeth Hospital that existed on the corner of Old Wake Forest Road and Glascock Street. Blacks could go there and be treated as well. As far as what year that commenced, I’m not certain. Mary Elizabeth was sold in the early 1970’s and eventually reopened around 1978 as Raleigh Community Hospital (now Raleigh Duke), despite opposition from both Wake Med and Rex.

I would love to see a reunion of the children born at St. Agnes that are still living. As mentioned by several others, there should be a grassroots effort made to restore this grand historical site. This building represents and holds a place in the history of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina and the entire United States.

Snowdine Everette07/04/2016

I was born at St. Agnes Hospital July 5th 1948

Evelyn McKinnon01/05/2017

Wow! I have so enjoyed this afternoon rendezvous with history which I happened to have been apart of on one pre-destined day. In just a few more days it would have been fifty-six years ago on January 13, 1961, the day chosen for me to enter into this life and at such an auspicious place called Saint Agnes Hospital. My sister Aleshia was born only a year prior as well at Saint Agnes.

A Landmark on the portals of our world indeed this marvelous edifice has been. In reading each comment and message written by endeared fellow travelers on our globe has meant an awe-inspiring thing to me on this day, as has been to each of you and others who will glean these writings.

Do you know what it means to be inspired. You each and your stories have aroused something that should and I hope and pray will become as erected as its age old frame still stands. There is reason why this momentous structure remains so upright, it longs to be remembered and each of you are keeping its memory alive by your sharing.

As for its restoration, it may come and it may not, its history has already been written, its story is being told by you, its memory is being spun.

Reunion what a grand idea, please count my sister and I in.
I remain most affectionately yours dear lady and gentlemen who took part in some way with the glory of Lady Saint Agnes.

ruth e johnson(PARKER)03/04/2017

I have been reading this wonderful history of St Agnes hospital and school of Nursing and St Augustine.I am a graduate of the nursing school class of 1953 and my husband from St Augustine 1953.did not read much about 1950-1953.I do remember working with Dr Robert McDowell .Dr.Gibbs,both deceased I hear but also Dr George Debnam,alive in Raleigh.would love to say hello to him if i can get his phone #.would also love to contact mr cutchin.think she was a classmate of my husband….I do hope they can restore that part of history

Amy Currle03/18/2017

One of my favorite women in the world, Lalaine was born at St. Agnes on April 21st 1940 please let me know if there is ever a reunion event for babies born there. She would so love that. I pray the building is restored. Too much history to let it die.

Janice Freeman Poole04/09/2017

I was born @ St. Agnes Hospital on June 12, 1958. Glad to be part of the History of such a great Hospital of that time. I would like to see a reunion take place in the building.

Rodney Gibbs07/18/2017

My mother, the late Vernelle B. Gibbs , was a student and graduate of St. Agnes School of Nursing. She graduated in the early 1950’s and told me stories of the historical significance of this great institution. I think that pictures of her graduating class are somewhere in the St. Augustine Library now. She would have been known as her maiden name then; Vernelle B. Graham. If anyone has any information regarding her class or pictures please contact me , her son; Rodney Gibbs – 843-616-1743

Rodney Gibbs07/18/2017

My mother, the late Vernelle B. Gibbs , was a student and graduate of St. Agnes School of Nursing. She graduated in the early 1950’s and told me stories of the historical significance of this great institution. I think that pictures of her graduating class are somewhere in the St. Augustine Library now. She would have been known as her maiden name then; Vernelle B. Graham. If anyone has any information regarding her class or pictures please contact me , her son; Rodney Gibbs – 843-616-1743; rgibbs2414@yahoo.com